I have pondered over the years how fascinating it is to delve into stories of people’s lives. Some of them, so far removed from us in years and centuries, that there would never have been any other bridging link, were it not for the might of the pen. Leafing through the precious pages of each life, many times, has left me in awe. That in an instance, and by a paltry amount of a few shillings, I can quench my thirst for knowledge, cure my itch for one more story, and walk away all-the-wiser from decades of a life now encapsuled within the pages of a book. The genius of it all defies description, and yet, it has become so normal today, we hardly think about it.
It is through story that the substance of cultures, the hopes and aspirations of nations and peoples, and the ingenuity of numerous innovations across humanity’s epochs are detailed. Story allows us to grasp past eras in our hands, and step into spaces we would otherwise never have known. They invite us into the private lives of kings and men who were linchpins in history as we now know it. We get to indulge in the simple joys of children growing up in ages that are best remembered in our minds in black and white images, now splashed with vivid colour as the yarn of story gives them life. We also feel the surge of pain and sorrow that our characters go through, in real time, as if it were happening right at the moment we are reading it. Our hearts get to feel the thrill of wars and battles both conquered or lost, and experience the despair of the captives as they are led away. With every flip of the page, we turn the pages of history that have been recounted and preserved for us to glean from, that we may live our lives better than those who preceded us. Stories connect the crumbs of history through tantalising anecdotes of heroes conquering their fears, nations subduing others, the cogwheels of time moving humanity’s trajectory forward, and so much more.
In the same way, just as the past has passed on this rich wealth to us, so must we ensure that the tapestry and fabric of these narratives are preserved for the next generations, especially as Africans. Indeed, it is time to wake up and start telling our African story. Our narratives must hand over a wealthier legacy to those that come after us. We owe it to them, having been bequeathed with so much.
It is said that a good book makes you want to live in the story, but a great book gives you no choice. I’m always on the lookout for the latter, always eager to satiate my palate with one more gem in history’s repository. A book so good, its lustre remains long after you read the last page. And it fascinates me to no end, whenever I’m privileged to be part of the unfolding history, to write and retell the lives and times of great men and women, and etch one more story in the annals of time. It’s what I live for and love to do, with all my heart – simply putting life into a story. As I like to put it, I’m passionate about curating and securing authentic narratives for posterity. Let’s tell your story together, shall we?
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